AU5190200A - Improvements in roll dispensers - Google Patents

Description

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Name of Applicant: Serderon The Plastic Man Pty. Ltd.

Address of Applicant: 9 Box Road, TAREN POINT NSW 2229 Actual Inventor: Steven George Serda Ban No Address for Service: ANDERSON-TAYLOR ASSOCIATES, Registered Patent Attorneys of 10 Harrison Avenue BONNET BAY N.S.W. 2226 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLL DISPENSERS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: This invention relates to roll dispensing devices. More particularly although not exclusively it discloses an improved roll dispenser for plastic bags of the type used for fresh produce.

The bag dispensers currently used typically comprise a spindle which mounts a freely rotatable roll of bags connected end to end along transverse tear lines. Customers requiring a bag pull the free end of the roll so that it unwinds until the next tear line is exposed. Parting the "plastic along this line produces a single bag ready for use.

One problem with existing dispensers however is that there is no braking mechanism to retard rotation of the rolls.

Consequently, the initial pull often unwinds a long length of ooo* **.plastic from the roll which ends up either as waste on the floor or is draped back over the dispenser.

It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages and accordingly apparatus is disclosed for dispensing material from a roll, said apparatus in a position of use including a base with upstanding spaced apart support arms which are formed with slots extending substantially along the length thereof and a spindle which extends through the core tube of said roll when fitted between said arms and seats in said slots, the spindle being slidable along said slots whereby the weight of said spindle and/or roll presses the roll periphery against a brake means to thereby retard roll rotation irrespective of reduction in roll diameter during use of the apparatus.

Preferably the brake means is formed by or as part of said base.

Two currently preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to.the attached representations in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the top of one o* form of plastic bag dispenser according to this concept.

Figure 2 is a similar perspective view of the dispenser of figure 1 when fitted with a roll of plastic bags, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the dispenser of figure 2 from the underside, and Figures 4, 5 and 6 are side and front views of a second embodiment of a roll dispenser according to this invention.

Referring first to figures 1 to 3 the dispenser may comprise a base plate 1 with upstanding spaced apart arms 2 at each side. The arms are formed with slots 3 extending substantially along the length thereof. There is also a spindle 4 which in use of the dispenser (figures 2 and 3) extends through the core tube 5 of a roll 6 of "star sealed" plastic bags 7. These bags are attached end to end along transverse perforation lines 8. As shown the arms are spaced to receive the roll 6 and there are grooves 9 at the ends of the spindle which seat in the slots 3. There is also a hook extending out at the front of the dispenser. As best shown in figure 2 this hook catches in apertures 11 formed at the aforementioned lines 8 as a bag is pulled from the unwinding roll 6. Further tension on the.bag therefore initiates a tear along the perforations 8 to free the bag.

"The spindle 4 is slidable al.ong the length of the slots 3 so that the weight of the spindle 4 and to some extent that of the roll presses the periphery 12 down onto a braking area 1A o• of the base plate 1. Preferably the spindle is formed from solid metal so as to maximise this downward force on the roller. The effect of this force is to cause a resistance or braking effect on rotation of the roll when the bags are pulled off by a customer. Consequently wastage of bags through "free wheeling" of the roll is substantially eliminated. As the roll is depleted and its diameter decreases the spindle slides down the slots to maintain engagement of the roll on the base plate.

Preferably the spindle is also attached to the base by a chain 13 or the like to prevent loss and/or injury to the user if it slips from the slots.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in figures 4 to 6. The principle of operation here is the same as with the first embodiment. The main components of the dispenser that correspond in function to those of figures 1 to 3 are marked with the same numbers but with the addition of a accent In this case the arms 2' are longer so that the dispenser can handle larger rolls. The slots 3' are also cut down closer to the base plate 1' to ensure roll contact with this plate virtually down to the last bag. The dispenser may also be mounted on a pole 13 or fitted to a wall by means of a bracket 14 as shown in figure 6.

It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the examples desclosed provides a novel and useful improvement to dispensers for plastic bags. Clearly however the embodiments described are only the currently preferred forms of the invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example the shape and configuration of the support arms, base plate and spindle may be changed according to design preference or the type of roll to be fitted. Also. while it is currently preferred to construct the dispenser from chrome plated steel the invention extends to the use of any other suitable material.

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Claims (4)

1. 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a hook extends out from a front portion of said base so that in use of said apparatus said hook catches in apertures formed in said material whereby segments of said material can then be torn away by a user along transverse perforations.
2. 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein there are grooves at the end of the spindle which seat in said slots.
3. 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the spindle is attached to the base by a chain or cord to prevent loss of said spindle and/or injury the user if the spindle slips from said slots. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the base is mountable on a pole or is adapted for fitting to a wall by means of a bracket.
4. 6. An apparatus for dispensing material from a roll, said apparatus being substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 to 3 or 4 to 6. Dated this ?'day of At~uS; 2000 Serderon The Plastic Man Pty. Ltd. By Our Patent Attorney .MICHAEL ANDERSON-TAYLOR 0* p. o